Stephen Dubner

Either that or I had simply run into a situation where a seemingly simple thing is made complicated or slow or frustrating. Has this sort of thing ever happened to you? Of course it has. It happens all the time, and it comes in many flavors. For instance, when it takes 30 seconds to sign up for some subscription service and then forever to cancel it.

Either that or I had simply run into a situation where a seemingly simple thing is made complicated or slow or frustrating. Has this sort of thing ever happened to you? Of course it has. It happens all the time, and it comes in many flavors. For instance, when it takes 30 seconds to sign up for some subscription service and then forever to cancel it.

Or when you fill out some massive government form online, but that one data field won't accept your answer, and when you try to hit submit, the whole thing freezes. Or when your insurance company sends you a menu of health care plans and you literally cannot understand the difference between the options or how much they will actually cost. There is a word for this kind of thing.

Or when you fill out some massive government form online, but that one data field won't accept your answer, and when you try to hit submit, the whole thing freezes. Or when your insurance company sends you a menu of health care plans and you literally cannot understand the difference between the options or how much they will actually cost. There is a word for this kind of thing.

Or when you fill out some massive government form online, but that one data field won't accept your answer, and when you try to hit submit, the whole thing freezes. Or when your insurance company sends you a menu of health care plans and you literally cannot understand the difference between the options or how much they will actually cost. There is a word for this kind of thing.

Sludge. Sludge. Sludge.

Sludge. Sludge. Sludge.

Sludge. Sludge. Sludge.

When something is made easier to do, that is called a nudge. When it's made harder, that is sludge. It's no coincidence that these words rhyme. As we will hear later, they come from the same person. But where does sludge come from? Is it the inevitable residue of bureaucracy? Does it come from a lack of effort or maybe sheer incompetence? Is sludge ever a strategic maneuver?

When something is made easier to do, that is called a nudge. When it's made harder, that is sludge. It's no coincidence that these words rhyme. As we will hear later, they come from the same person. But where does sludge come from? Is it the inevitable residue of bureaucracy? Does it come from a lack of effort or maybe sheer incompetence? Is sludge ever a strategic maneuver?

When something is made easier to do, that is called a nudge. When it's made harder, that is sludge. It's no coincidence that these words rhyme. As we will hear later, they come from the same person. But where does sludge come from? Is it the inevitable residue of bureaucracy? Does it come from a lack of effort or maybe sheer incompetence? Is sludge ever a strategic maneuver?

Today on Freakonomics Radio, we will try to answer all those questions as we begin a two-part series on sludge. Did we really need two episodes for this? We did, because sludge is everywhere, and it's time to fight back.

Today on Freakonomics Radio, we will try to answer all those questions as we begin a two-part series on sludge. Did we really need two episodes for this? We did, because sludge is everywhere, and it's time to fight back.

Today on Freakonomics Radio, we will try to answer all those questions as we begin a two-part series on sludge. Did we really need two episodes for this? We did, because sludge is everywhere, and it's time to fight back.

Here's a voice you may recognize. He's been on the show a few times.

Here's a voice you may recognize. He's been on the show a few times.

Here's a voice you may recognize. He's been on the show a few times.

And you co-wrote a book years ago, a beloved book, really, called Nudge. Correct.

And you co-wrote a book years ago, a beloved book, really, called Nudge. Correct.

And you co-wrote a book years ago, a beloved book, really, called Nudge. Correct.